Xi Jinping reaffirms strong ties before meeting North Korea's Kim Jong Un
Beijing, June 8
Ahead of his meeting with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that he looks forward to discussing the partnership and exchanging views on the overall development of bilateral relations, China Daily reported.
As per China Daily, Xi made the remarks in a signed article published on Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea--ahead of a state visit slated for Monday and Tuesday, which comes in seven years.
Xi Jinping highlighted how China and North Korea are "friendly socialist neighbours" who share a common future and stand by each other, with an "unbreakable and enduring" traditional friendship despite the developments in the international landscape.
China Daily further reported that it called the shared socialist ideal a defining feature of the ties between China and North Korea--underlining how the traditional friendship between the two countries, rooted in a shared future, forms the solid foundation of bilateral ties.
"High-level strategic coordination gives China-DPRK relations their contemporary significance," Xi said as per China Daily. "Promoting long-term peace and stability in the region, as well as world peace and stability, is a common pursuit of the two parties, the two countries and their peoples."
It further mentioned that the two sides firmly support each other in areas such as safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and work together to uphold "regional peace and tranquillity, international fairness and justice, and the postwar international order", Xi said.
Noting that top-level strategic guidance is the greatest strength of the bilateral ties, Xi recalled the six meetings between him and Kim, which reflects the two countries maintaining close strategic communication and jointly drawing up a blueprint for the development of their relationship.
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to North Korea, the powerful sister of Kim Jong-un has said her country's status as a nuclear-armed state is absolutely irreversible, calling it a "line of no retreat" and vowing not to tolerate any threats against it
"The DPRK's status as a nuclear weapons state is the line of no retreat, and it is a stark reality whether anyone recognises it or not," said Kim Yo-jong.
The remarks by Kim Yo-jong, released by North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), yesterday, were quoted by South Korea's media, Yonhap, on Sunday.
Xi is scheduled to visit North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), from June 8 to 9, and Kim Yo-Jong's remarks apparently aimed at underscoring that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program is not subject to discussions between Xi and Kim Jong-un, as per Yonhap.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, this feels like a lot of diplomatic theatrics. North Korea using this visit to double down on its nuclear program is a clear signal that no amount of "friendship" is going to change their stance. China is playing a dangerous game here - they want to project influence but are effectively enabling a nuclear-armed neighbor. 😕
"Unbreakable friendship" - that's what China says about every country it has strategic interests with. Meanwhile, India has seen firsthand what China's "friendship" looks like when it comes to border disputes and BRI debt traps. North Korea might be a useful ally for now, but Beijing will drop them the moment it suits their interests. Mark my words.
Kim Yo-jong's statement about nuclear status being irreversible is very concerning. This meeting seems designed to legitimize North Korea's nukes while China gets to play mediator. India must strengthen its own strategic alliances in response, especially with Quad partners. We cannot afford to be complacent while China expands its influence in our neighborhood.
I think people are overreacting. China has historically been a buffer between North Korea and the West, and this meeting is just maintaining the status quo. Yes, the nuclear issue is worrying, but diplomacy is better than confrontation. India should focus on its own development instead of getting worked up about every China move in East Asia. 🤔
This is classic Chinese diplomacy - using lofty language about "shared futures" while pursuing their own strategic interests. The timing is also interesting, coming right after Xi's outreach to Russia. India needs to be more
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